One weekend, two LM P3 titles for the Ligier JS P3
One weekend, two LM P3 titles for the Ligier JS P3
11-14 October 2018, two LM P3 titles are at stake. In the United States, sixth and final round of the IMSA Prototype Challenge at Petit Le Mans. In the United Kingdom, sixth and final round of the LM P3 Cup at Silverstone. The Ligier JS P3 wins two LM P3 titles with the #30 Ligier JS P3 of ESM in IMSA Prototype Challenge and the #1 Ligier JS P3 of Ecurie Ecosse / Nielsen Racing in LM P3 Cup.
2018 LM P3 title in IMSA Prototype Challenge for the Ligier JS P3
Up to this race, the Ligier JS P3 had clinched three pole positions, five best laps, and won 4 victories and 7 podiums. For the sixth and last round at Petit Le Mans, Kris Wright competed for the title with the #30 Ligier JS P3 of ESM. So far, he scored a podium at each race.
Good start. Kris Wright claims the second-fastest time in qualifying with the #30 Ligier JS P3 of ESM. Many yellow flags and safety cars punctuate this last round. The Ligier JS P3s are getting closer to the leading car. The #30 Ligier JS P3 of ESM with Kris Wright and Nic Jonsson finishes second.
For Kris Wright and ESM, it is a success: IMSA Prototype Challenge LM P3 Drivers and Teams Champion with the #30 Ligier JS P3. For the Ligier JS P3, it is a second LM P3 title in a row in IMSA Prototype Challenge. In 2017, Ligier had won the championship with P1 Motorsports.
The #40 Ligier JS P3 of Polestar Motor Racing driven by Keith et David Grant claims third. The top 10 is filled out by 7 other Ligier JS P3s:
- The #3 Ligier JS P3 of ESM
- The #75 Ligier JS P3 of Performance Tech Motorsports
- The #60 Ligier JS P3 of Wulver Racing
- The #55 Ligier JS P3 of JDC MotorSports
- The #4 Ligier JS P3 of ANSA Motorsports
- The #17 Ligier JS P3 of P1 Motorsports
- The #33 Ligier JS P3 of ESM
The best lap is also scored by a Ligier, with the #55 Ligier JS P3 of JDC Motorsports.
After 6 races, the 2018 IMSA Prototype Challenge is over. Throwback on the Ligier JS P3's results: 3 pole positions, 6 fastest laps, 4 victories, 9 podiums and 1 LM P3 title.
2018 LM P3 title in LM P3 Cup for the Ligier JS P3
Sixth and final round of the season in LM P3 Cup at Silverstone with two races. On the #1 Ligier JS P3 of Ecurie Ecosse / Nielsen Racing, Colin Noble and Tony Wells are going for the title. A fifth position is enough for them to win the championship.
First race. The #7 Ligier JS P3 of Ecurie Ecosse / Nielsen Racing with Christian Olsen behind the wheel claims the pole position. After Christian Olsen's quick first stint, the #7 is still first with Nick Adcock. It then moves to second position before it is taken over by its sister car, the #1 Ligier JS P3, in the final lap.
The #1 Ligier JS P3 and the #7 Ligier JS P3 #7 of Ecurie Ecosse / Nielsen Racing finish second and third. Colin Noble and Tony Wells with the #1 Ligier JS P3 win the 2018 title. This is the second time in a row that the Ligier JS P3 scores the LM P3 Cup title with Colin Noble and Ecurie Ecosse / Nielsen Racing.
The second race of the weekend is cancelled due to difficult weather conditions.
To date, Ligier is up to three LM P3 titles in 2018, on three different continents: in the United States with the IMSA Prototype Challenge, in the United Kingdom with the LM P3 Cup and in Asia with the Asian le Mans Series. One must wait until end of October to know the European Le Mans Series champion. On the provisional overall classification, the Ligier JS P3s monopolise the 7 first positions